Worldfest Food Tour: Come for the Culture, Stay for the Cuisine

UC's Worldfest is best known for the International Festival that will take place on McMicken Commons at lunchtime Thursday, April 26. But multicultural events actually span the entire Worldfest week. And like the International Festival, many events include plenty of tasty (often free or low-cost) ethnic dishes.

Here's your guide to some of the international flavors you can sample throughout the week:

The Dish: Sweet treats and appetizers from around the world

Menu:

Vietnamese spring rolls and fresh rolls; Indian gulab jamun, samosas, pakoras; Jamaican plantains, chicken and vegetable patties; Ethiopian beef and vegetable sambussa; Mexican tres leches cake and flan; plus Greek kataifi and baklava

When and where:

4 p.m., Monday, April 23, @ TUC's Great Hall

Served up by:

Worldfest committee

Event:

Worldfest Kickoff  Celebration

The Dish: Latin dishes and desserts

Menu:

Tacos and fajitas with sopapillas

When and where:

Noon, Tuesday, April 24, @ 555 Steger Student Life Center

Served up by:

Latinos en Accion and Ethnic Programs and Services (EPS)

Event:

Tacos on Tuesday

The Dish: International Festival (of food)

A foodie's tour of some of the McMicken Commons booths at lunchtime, April 26

• African Student Association: Jerk chicken, veggies, plus red beans and rice
  
• Arabic Club: Baklava
• French Club: Crêpes and madeleines
  
• German Club: Pretzels
• Hillel Jewish Student Center: Birthday cake (to mark Israel's birthday)
• Identity: Smoothies
• Indian Student Association: Samosa chat
  
• International Friendships: Oranges, apples and nuts
  
• Japanese American Student Society: Yakisoba
• Latinos en Accion: Churros, niño envuelto, conchas, jarritos
• Muslim Student Association: Falafel, hummus, pita bread and samosa
• Taiwanese Student Association: Fried rice, Chinese sausage, fried dumplings and bubble tea
• Turkish Student and Scholars Association: Pogaca, feta borek, lentil ball, pumpkin dessert, grape leaves, tabouleh, Turkish coffee

When and where:

11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday, April 26, @ McMicken Commons

Served up by:

UC International, Mainstreet and SALD

Event:

International Festival

The Dish: Shabbat dinner

Menu:

Traditional Israeli food including hummus, falafel, barekas and pita

When and where:

7 p.m., Friday, April 27, @ Stratford Heights Pavilion

Served up by:

Cincinnati Hillel

Event:

Challah, It’s Shabbat Dinner!

The Dish: Northern Indian cuisine

Menu:

Samosas, pakoras, gulab jamun, vegetable biryani, saag paneer

When and where:

4 p.m., Saturday, April 28, @ Sigma Sigma Commons

Served up by:

Ethnic Programs and Services, Asian American Association and Hindu Yuva

Event:

Holi Festival

The Dish: Taste of India

Menu:

Nan, paneer butter masala, aloo gobi, pakora with chutney, kheer, rice and vegetable biryani

When and where:

2 - 5 p.m., Sunday, April 29, @ TUC's Great Hall

Served up by:

UC's Association for India's Development

Event:

Taste of India

Beyond the food

Get complete details on all UC's Worldfest events April 19 through April 29.

See photo gallery from the Holi Festival

Watch the Worldfest 2012 Opening Ceremony

See photo gallery of Opening Ceremony

Watch highlights from the 2012 International Festival